Brassiere having multifilament variable stiffness support and having protective frame tips

ABSTRACT

A garment for supporting a woman&#39;s chest in the form a brassiere with breast supporting cups supported by an wire element of variable stiffness formed of a solid wire linearly joined to a cable of greater flexibility than the solid wire, and with the ends of the support wire having protective balls.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is directed to the inventions described in U.S.Provisional Application Serial No. 60/239,410 filed Oct. 11, 2000 andclaims priority of said application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is directed to garments such as brassieresand bathing suits having flexible, supportive elements forming a framefor the garment.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,774 is directed to garments includingbrassieres having metallic wires or frames as stiffening members. Thewires disclosed therein have a generally U-shaped configurationextending along the periphery of the brassiere cups. The wires aresecured to the garment by enclosing and stitching the wires within thefabric along the perimeter of the brassiere cups.

[0004] The '774 patent provides a multifilament twisted and drawn cablesupport member attached to the lower perimeter of each brassiere cupportion to provide support for each cup in a manner comfortable to thewearer. The cable support member is a plurality of nickel-titanium wiresor stainless steel wires, or wires of other metals or alloys. Thetwisted and drawn cables provide excellent support for the cup portionsof the brassiere, and the cables being very flexible are not prone topoking through the material of the brassiere.

[0005] The present invention is directed to improvements of the garmentdisclosed in the '774 patent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In accordance with the present invention, garments includingbrassieres and women's bathing suits are provided with frames comprisingwire members of variable stiffness as supporting members. The frameshave a generally U-shaped configuration extending along the periphery ofthe brassiere cups. The frames themselves are formed of a solid wiresegment and a wire of greater flexibility such as a multifilament drawnwire or braided or stranded wire segment with the segments joined bylinearly suitable means such as butt welding.

[0007] In one embodiment, a variable stiffness frame for a brassieresupport cup is fabricated of one-half solid wire and one-halfmultifilament drawn or braided or stranded wire joined at the midpointof the frame. In another embodiment, the frame comprises two-thirdssolid wire joined to one-third a wire of greater flexibility such asmultifilament drawn wire or braided or stranded wire. In anotherembodiment, the frame comprises a center section of a wire of greaterflexibility such as multifilament drawn wire or braided or stranded wirejoined at its ends to terminal sections of solid wire. In still anotherembodiment of the invention, a unitary frame for both cups of abrassiere comprises adjacent generally U-shaped cup supporting membersof solid wire joined at their inner ends by a center section of a wireof greater flexibility such as multifilament drawn wire or braided orstranded wire. The center section may be described as an invertedU-shaped section with ends linearly joined to the inner ends of the cupsupporting members.

[0008] In another aspect of the invention, each terminal end of each cupsupporting frame member is provided with a sphere joined thereto toprotect the garment as well as the wearer from poking by the ends of thewire frames. The sphere can be flattened into a disc shape. Theprotective spheres and discs are made part of the embodiments of garmentvariable stiffness support frames described just above as well beingmade part of support frames of solid Nitinol wire.

[0009] In accordance with the invention the support frames are securedto a garment by enclosing and stitching the wires within the fabricalong the perimeter of the brassiere cups.

[0010] A garment according to the invention possesses a variablestiffness wire support wherein the breast is supported laterally toprevent the breast from flowing sideways, and to direct breast flowtoward the center to create “cleavage”. Directing breast flow toward thecenter is achieved by locating the flexible multifilament drawn wire orwires in the center of the support frame. A support frame having greaterflexibility toward the center is also advantageous when the user isrunning or jogging.

[0011] Additional advantages of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art upon reference to the detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0012]FIG. 1 is a front view of a garment according to the invention.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a front view of a garment cup support member of solidwire with balls affixed to its tips.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a front view of a modified embodiment of garment cupsupport member of combined solid wire and a wire of greater flexibilitysuch as multifilament drawn or braided or stranded wire with ballsaffixed to its tips.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a front view of another modified embodiment of garmentcup support member of combined solid wire and a wire of greaterflexibility such as multifilament drawn or braided or stranded wire withballs affixed to its tips.

[0016]FIG. 5 is a front view of another modified embodiment of garmentcup support member of combined solid wire and a wire of greaterflexibility such as multifilament drawn or braided or stranded wire withballs affixed to its tips.

[0017]FIG. 6 is a front view of another modified embodiment of garmentcup support member of combined solid wire and a wire of greaterflexibility such as multifilament drawn or braided or stranded wire withballs affixed to its tips.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, a garment such as a brassiere 10 accordingto the invention comprises a pair of frontal cup portions 12 made offlexible material for covering the chest of the wearer. Each of the cupportions 12 has a perimeter and a lower edge 14, an inner edge 16, andan outer edge 18 which together define a lower portion 19 of theperimeter. In accordance with the invention, a variable stiffnesssupport element 20 comprising a combined solid wire and a wire ofgreater flexibility such as multifilament drawn wire or braided orstranded wire is sewn along the lower portion of the perimeter. A frontportion 30 of the garment is provided with material and/or couplingmeans connecting the inner edges 16 of the cup portions to each other. Aback portion 32 of the garment has material and/or coupling meansextending around the back of the wearer for connecting the outer edges18 of the cup portions together. One or other of the front and backportions 30, 32 is preferably divided into two subsections 34, 35 andincludes releasable coupling means 36 such as cooperating hooks andloops to facilitate donning and doffing the garment. The garment mayinclude shoulder straps 38 to couple the back portions to the cupportions for additional support.

[0019] In one aspect of the invention shown in FIG. 2, a brassieresupport element 17 comprises a solid Nitinol U-shaped wire 20 with ballelements 22, 24 in the form of spheres or discs affixed to each end ofthe support element. The ball elements may be prefabricated balls orcreated by melting the element tips with either a plasma welder or alaser welder. The balls may be the same or larger diameter of the cabledefining the element. The balls may optionally be flattened into a discshape. The sphere and disc whichever is used prevent injury to thegarment and to the wearer. The support elements are also preferablycoated with a thermoplastic elastomer 25 by extrusion or heat shrinking,for example. The elastomer provides a cushioning effect.

[0020] In another aspect of the invention shown in several embodimentsin FIGS. 3-5 a brassiere support element 40 comprises a U-shaped supportformed of linearly joined solid wire 42 and multifilament drawn wire orbraided or stranded wire 44.

[0021] The brassiere support element 50 of FIG. 6 comprises a unitarydouble U-shaped structure of solid wire 52 joined by a centralmultifilament drawn wire section or braided or stranded wire 54.

[0022] The multifilament drawn wire 44, 54 comprises a twisted and drawnor swaged cable support element manufactured as follows. Severalfilaments or wires preferably of nickel-titanium, stainless steel, orother metals or alloys or combinations thereof are twined together toform a wire rope. The wire rope is drawn through a die to reduce itsdiameter. Preferably, the wire is successively drawn through severaldies decreasing the diameter and plastically deforming the wires so thatthe cable takes a substantially circular cross-section. The cable ispreferably heated to remove cold working.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the wire rope is drawn through fourdies of decreasing diameter resulting in a cable with diameter 30-40%smaller than the wire rope. In lieu of drawing, the wire rope can beswaged to reduced diameter and circular cross-section.

[0024] A cable made in this manner exhibits relatively high flexibility,high torque modulus, light weight, and high strength.

[0025] In modified form, the support element may be formed of braided orstranded wire in the place of multifilament drawn wire to achievevariable stiffness in conjunction with Nitinol wire. Braiding andstranding are known techniques for making wire.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 3, a support element comprises a U-shaped wireof approximately one-half solid wire 42 and one-half multifilament drawnwire or braided or stranded wire 44 butt welded to each other at 40 aand fitted with terminal protective balls or discs 22, 24 as describedabove in connection with FIG. 2.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 4, a support element 40 comprises a U-shapedwire of approximately two-thirds solid wire 42 and one-thirdmultifilament drawn wire or braided or stranded wire 44 butt welded toeach other at 40 a and fitted with terminal protective balls or discs22, 24 as described above in connection with FIG. 2.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 5, a support element 40 comprises a U-shapedwire of approximately two solid wire end sections 42, 43 each beingapproximately two-fifths of the element together with a bottom orcentral multifilament drawn wire or braided or stranded wire 44 beingapproximately one fifth of the element. The sections are butt welded toeach other at 40 a and fitted with terminal protective balls or discs22, 24 as described above in connection with FIG. 2.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 6, a support element 50 comprises a doubleU-shaped wire 51 of solid wire terminal portions 52 and an invertedU-shaped central portion 54 multifilament drawn wire or braided orstranded wire butt welded to each other at 50 a and fitted with terminalprotective balls or discs 22, 24 as described above in connection withFIG. 2.

[0030] It will be appreciated that a variable stiffness support elementfor brassieres and the like provides breast support wherein breast flowis directed toward the center of the supporting garment aidedprincipally by the location of solid wire sections to the outer lateralmargins of the support cups and providing a multifilament drawn orbraided or stranded wire section at the inner lateral margin of thesupport cups. In the case of a unitary double cup support frame, thesolid wire sections are placed under and to the outer lateral margins ofeach support cup with the solid wire sections joined by a centralinverted U-shaped multifilament drawn or braided or stranded wire.

[0031] Various changes may be made to the support elements embodying theprinciples of the invention. The foregoing embodiments are set forth inan illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The scope of the inventionis defined by the claims appended hereto.

I claim:
 1. A garment having cups for breast support with each cuphaving a perimeter the improvement which comprises a support elementaffixed along the perimeter of at least one of said cups, the supportelement having a U-shaped configuration ending in tips and being formedof solid nickel-titanium wire, and a ball element affixed to the tips ofthe support element.
 2. A garment as defined in claim 1 in which theball elements are spheres.
 3. A garment as defined in claim 1 in whichthe ball elements are discs.
 4. A garment having cups for breast supportwith each cup having a perimeter the improvement which comprises asupport element affixed along the perimeter of at least one of saidcups, and the support element having a U-shaped configuration formed oflinearly joined sections of solid nickel-titanium wire and a cable ofgreater flexibility.
 5. A garment as defined in claim 4 in which thecable of greater flexibility is multifilament drawn wire.
 6. A garmentas defined in claim 4 in which the cable of greater flexibility isbraided wire.
 7. A garment as defined in claim 4 in which the cable ofgreater flexibility is stranded wire.
 8. A garment as defined in claim 4in which the U-shaped element terminate in tips and a ball element isaffixed to the tips.
 9. A garment as defined in claim 8 in which theball elements are spheres.
 10. A garment as defined in claim 8 in whichthe ball elements are discs.
 11. A garment having cups for breastsupport with each cup having a perimeter the improvement which comprisesa support element affixed along the perimeter of at least one of saidcups, and the support element having a U-shaped configuration formed oflinearly joined sections with solid nickel-titanium wire formingone-half the element and a cable of greater flexibility forming one-halfthe element.
 12. A garment as defined in claim 11 in which the cable ofgreater flexibility is multifilament drawn wire.
 13. A garment asdefined in claim 11 in which the cable of greater flexibility is braidedwire.
 14. A garment as defined in claim 11 in which the cable of greaterflexibility is stranded wire.
 15. A garment as defined in claim 11 inwhich the U-shaped element terminates in tips and a ball element isaffixed to the tips.
 16. A garment as defined in claim 15 in which theball elements are spheres.
 17. A garment as defined in claim 15 in whichthe ball elements are discs.
 18. A garment having cups for breastsupport with each cup having a perimeter the improvement which comprisesa support element affixed along the perimeter of at least one of saidcups, and the support element having a U-shaped configuration formed oflinearly joined sections of solid nickel-titanium wire formingtwo-thirds of the element and a cable of greater flexibility than thesolid wire forming one-third of the element.
 19. A garment as defined inclaim 18 in which the cable of greater flexibility is multifilamentdrawn wire.
 20. A garment as defined in claim 18 in which the cable ofgreater flexibility is braided wire.
 21. A garment as defined in claim18 in which the cable of greater flexibility is stranded wire.
 22. Agarment as defined in claim 18 in which the U-shaped element terminatesin tips and a ball element is affixed to the tips.
 23. A garment asdefined in claim 22 in which the ball elements are spheres.
 24. Agarment as defined in claim 22 in which the ball elements are discs. 25.A garment having cups for breast support with each cup having aperimeter the improvement which comprises a support element affixedalong the perimeter of at least one of said cups, and the supportelement having a U-shaped configuration formed of linearly joinedsections of solid nickel-titanium wire and a cable of greaterflexibility than the solid wire, with the solid nickel-titanium wireforming the end sections of the element and a cable of greaterflexibility than the solid wire forming a central section of theelement.
 26. A garment as defined in claim 25 in which the cable ofgreater flexibility is multifilament drawn wire.
 27. A garment asdefined in claim 25 in which the cable of greater flexibility is braidedwire.
 28. A garment as defined in claim 25 in which the cable of greaterflexibility is stranded wire.
 29. A garment as defined in claim 25 inwhich the U-shaped element terminates in tips and a ball element isaffixed to the tips.
 30. A garment as defined in claim 29 in which theball elements are spheres.
 31. A garment as defined in claim 29 in whichthe ball elements are discs.
 32. A garment having cups for breastsupport with each cup having a perimeter the improvement which comprisesa support element affixed along the perimeter of said cups, the supportelement having a double U-shaped configuration formed of linearly joinedsections of solid nickel-titanium wire and nickel-titanium wire twistedand drawn or swaged into a cable, with the solid nickel-titanium wireforming the end sections of the elements and a cable of greaterflexibility forming an inverted central section of the element.
 33. Agarment as defined in claim 32 in which the cable of greater flexibilityis multifilament drawn wire.
 34. A garment as defined in claim 32 inwhich the cable of greater flexibility is braided wire.
 35. A garment asdefined in claim 32 in which the cable of greater flexibility isstranded wire.
 36. A garment as defined in claim 32 in which theU-shaped element terminates in tips and a ball element is affixed to thetips.
 37. A garment as defined in claim 32 in which the ball elementsare spheres.
 38. A garment as defined in claim 32 in which the ballelements are discs.